Road-drag.



A. A. HATTON.

ROAD DRAGL' APPLICATION FILED JAN-12,1917

Patented Sept/18, 1917.

2 SHEETSSHEET I a Hot "@134 A. A. HATTON.

ROAD DRAG.

APPLICATION FILED IAN-12,1917- 1,243,714v Patented Sept. 18,1917.

'1' OFFICE.

ALBERT .A. HATTON, OF HALLS, MISSOURI.

ROAD-DRAXEL Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Se t. 18 1917.

Application filed January 12,1917. Serial No. 142,092.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT A. HA'r'roN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Halls, in the county of Buchanan and State of fv'flSSOHll, have invented certain useful Improvements in Road-Drags, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing. The invention relates to a road scraper, and more particularlyto the class of machines for planing or smoothing dirt roads. The primary object .of the invention is the provision of a machine of this character wherein the construction thereof permits the smoothing of a road surface and the scraping thereof to render the same in the best possible condition for traffic.

Another object- .of the invention is the provision of a machine of this character wherein the road surface can .be properly leveled with dispatch, .the machine :being of novel construction, so as to permit the proper adjustment of the cutting-bladesand scraper board without requiring excessive labor on the part of the operator.

A further dbject of the invention is the provision of a machine of this character wherein the frame thereof is made rigid to support the cutting and scraping elements which are readily-adjustable to assure the efficient leveling of the road to render the same smooth for traffic.

A still further object .of the invention is the provision .of a machine .of this character wherein the scraper for deflecting the loose dirt from the road surface can be properly adjusted angularly to the draft of the machine, so as to deliver the said loosedirt to one side ofthe road bed during the advancement of the machine.

' A still further object of the invention is the provision of a machine of this character which is simple in construction, efficacious in operation, strong, durable, and inexpensive in manufacture.

With these and other objects -in view, the invention consists in the features of construction, combina'tion, and arrangement of partaaswill be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings,

and pointed out in the'claims hereunto :ap-

pended; I In the accompanying draw1ngs Figure .;1 is a topzplan new of aamac me so: w

responding parts throughout the several views in the drawings.

Referring .to the drawings in detail, the machine comprises a main frame A formed with skeleton shoes 10, preferably in the form of sleigh runners, made from -metal or wood, shod with metal at their treads, althoughthe same may be Otherwise constructed, if found desirable.

Connected to the shoes or runners 10 with the .top rails thereof, intermediate the same is a cross beam .or bar 11, which is fastened to the top rails of said shoes or runners in any suitable manner, while at the rear ends of the latter is a rear cross beam or. rail 12, which is also fastened in any suitable manner.

Extending spaced from thefrontends of the shoes or runners 10 and to the rear ends 1 thereofare crossed strips or bracesl3 which have their rear ends suitably fixed to the end cross or rail 12 and their forward ends fixed to the top rails .of the shoes or runners 10, and inthismanner-the frame A. is materially braced and rendered rigid.

Fixed .to the cross beam 11 spaced from the ends thereof are reinforcing .bra ckets 14, which are also connectedto the lowermost rails of the-shoesor runners 1 0,S0j15170 hold the'same against lateral displacement and also to reinforce the frame A ,of the machine. i

Arranged longitudinally of the frame A centrally thereof and suitably fixed to the beams,or -railsliand 12 is a main draftbar 115, which is of cons der b ylcss e gth than the shoes or runners 10, the endsof said bar '15 .being extended forwardly and rearn sting-of dra t animals thereto, thetongue i or pole 17 beingiitted with the usual double-tree 18, which is swingingly mounted thereon in any ordinary well known manner.

Connected to the tongue or pole 1,7, which is materially reinforced at its coupling end, are rearwardly divergent brace rods 19, which are swingingly connected to hangers 20, fixed to the top rails of the shoes or runners 10, and also to the forward ends of the cross braces 13, and these brace rods hold the pole or ton ue 17 in longitudinal alinement with the draft bar 15 in the frame A of the machine, and also permit vertical movement of the pole or tongue without sidevise or lateral movement thereof.

Supported forwardly within the frame A below the front portions of the crossed braces 13 are the forwardly divergent or an ularly disposed front horizontal cutters or blades 21, which are suspended in working relation to a road bed for adjustment upon hangers, each including the vertical legs 22, slidable through guides 23 in the form of strap loops mounted on the runners 10 and f 'ame A respectively, and the upper connecting rods 24, each leg being formed with a foot 25, which is riveted or otherwise fastened to the blade 21, while the opposite upper end is fixed to the connecting rod 24 in any suitable manner. Carried by the crossed braces 13 between the points of location of the legs 22 are toothed segment racks 26, to which are pivoted operating throw levers 27, the same carrying spring held manually released locking pawls or dogs 2., to engage with the teeth of the segment racks 26. so that the levers 27 can be locked in their adjusted positions.

Each throw lever 2'? is formed with a curved extension 28, provided with a slot 29, in which is received the connecting pin 30 on the connecting rod 24 between the legs 22 so that on movement of each lever 27 the hanger for the blade 21 will be adjusted to raise or lower said blade relative to the road surface in the operation of the machine, as will be apparent. The horizontal disposition of the cutters or blades 21 will cut the face or surface of the road bed for the assisting in the leveling thereof and rendering it smooth with a perfectly flat surface.

The arms 22 are of a length to permit the cutters or blades to be lowered a slight dis tance beneath the plane of the treads or runners 10 of the frame A of the machine, so as to assure the proper cutting action thereof on the road bed.

By reason of the angular disposition of the cutters or blades 21, the road bed will be sheared and the cutting action of said blades will be more effective on the advancement of the machine for retarding the latter.

Arranged at the rear end of the frame A is a scraper 31, which isin the form of a.

board, and is vertically disposed while mounted on the rearmost face thereof is an arcuate shaped bracket 32, provided with a slot 33 in which is adjustably mounted an eye bearing 34: having pivoted at 35 therein one end of a substantially L-shaped hanger arm 36, which is also pivoted at 37 to a hearing 38, fixed to the main bar 15, the latter being also fitted with a toothed segment rack 39, which has'pivoted thereto a throw lever 10, carrying a spring held manually released latch 11, which engages with the teeth of the segment 39 to hold the lever 1-0 in its adjusted position. The lever 10 is formed with a curved extension 42, to which is connected a link 43, th same being also connected to the hanger 36, so that on adjustment of the lever 40, the scraper 31 can be raised and lowered relative to the road bed. Mounted forwardly of thescraper 31 in a bracket 14 on the main bar 15 is a swingle tree 45 having pivoted in the ends thereof trail arms 16, the same being loosely connected to eyes 17 at the upper edge of the scraper 31 the trail arms being rearwardly divergent with respect to each other and on shifting the swingle tree 45 the said scraper 31 can be angularly adjusted for directing the loose dirt acted upon thereby to one side of the machine. The loose connection of the bearing 35 in the bracket 32 permits the angular adjustment of the said scraper 31 on movement of the swingle tree.

Connected-to the bottom rails of the runners or shoes 10 at the rear ends thereof are chains 48, each carrying a fastener for detachable engagement with the end of the scraper 31, so as to hold the same against horizontal swinging movement for deflecting the loose dirt to one sideof the machine. It will be apparent that on adjustment of the swingle tree 45 the scraper 31 can be reversed in its angular disposition, thereby permitting the dirt to be thrown to either side of the machine when the same is advanced.

Mounted centrally of the frame A is a drivers seat l to be occupied by the driver or operator of the machine, the levers 27 being in convenient reach of said driver or operator when keeping the seat to permit manual adjustment thereof for the raising or lowering'of the front cutters or blades 21 when the occasion requires.

At the rear end of the frame A and bric g ing the bar 15 isan outwardly arched guard rail 50, which is fastened to the frame in any suitable manner. 7 i

In the operation of the machine, when the same is advanced, the front cutters or blades 21 cut the surface of the road bed to plane the same, and thereby render it straight or flat, while the loosened surface of the road bed is acted upon by the scraper 31, which delivers the same to one side of the machine, and in this manner the road bed is leveled and rendered perfectly smooth, so as to have the same in the best possible condition for traflic.

From the foregoing, it is thought that the construction and manner of operation of the machine will be clearly understood, and therefore a more extended explanation has been omitted.

What is claimed is 1. A machine of the character described comprisin a runner frame, forwardly diverging horizontally disposed cutters, hangers supported on the frame and carrying the cutters, means for adjusting the hangers, an angularly and vertically adjustable scraper supported at the rear end of the frame, means for holding the scraper in adjusted position, a svvingle tree pivoted in the frame and trail rods pivotally connected thereto and also loosely connected to the scraper.

2. A machine of the character described comprising a frame having side runners and crossed braces, forwardly diverging front horizontal cutters, hangers for supporting the cutters, means for adjusting the hangers to raise and lower the cutters, a center bar in the frame, draft means connected to the center bar, a hanger arm swingingly supported on the center bar, a rear scraper connected for angular adjustment to the hanger arm, means for raising and lowering the hanger arm and means for holding the scraper in its angularly adjusted position.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ALBERT A. HATTON.

Copies of this patent may he obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents Washington, D. G. 

